Practice question

Genetic inheritance across generations relies exclusively on cellular lineage that undergoes meiosis and fertilization. Germ cells segregate early, maintain pluripotency factors, and produce sperm and eggs carrying haploid genomes with recombined parental information. Somatic cells support physiological functions but cease at death without transmitting DNA. Organ and zygotic terms overlap conceptually but germ cells specifically denote cells destined for reproduction under Weismann doctrine. Evolution selects mutations occurring in germ cells, as only these enter offspring gene pool, ensuring continuity of hereditary material while somatic variations remain non-heritable.